Campaigners calls for clarity over the future of Hemsby's coastline
This part of Norfolk's coastline has shrunk by more than three metres in the past month
A man living on the seafront of Hemsby, a Norfolk village bearing the brunt of coastal erosion, is calling on decision-makers to bring clarity about what support, if any, they'll be getting this year.
This part of Norfolk's coastline remains without a permanent sea defence of its own and has shrunk by more than three metres in the past month, alone.
"If we have a few really bad storms our time here might be really limited"
Simon Measures is chair of 'Save Hemsby Coastline and lives on The Marrams:
"We look at time here, not in months and years, but in storms. Unfortunately, if we have a few really bad storms our time here might be really limited.
"We are in a better position than others and some are in worse positions, but it shouldn't be like this. We shouldn't be living in a scenario that depends on luck so much.
"2024 was very stressful, harrowing and bad for our mental health. Everyone is sick and tired of throwing a six every time we have a storm here.
"We're less hopeful than we were last year. The dunes are that much weaker than they were last year. The storms are more frequent and damaging, while the beach is ever lower."
Hemsby's fight against coastal erosion, at a glance:
In December 2023, the Hemsby coastline lost 3–4 metres of beach, and five cliff-top houses were demolished.
Estimates by the Environment Agency and local authorities show that between 55 and 150 homes could be lost in Hemsby, between now and 2100, with researchers 'One Home' warning 100 metres of land in the seaside village will be lost before the end of the century, unless urgent action is taken.
In October, Hemsby's lifeboat service was put out of action, due to coastal erosion which has worn away at its launch ramp.
Hemsby's Gap, which provides access to the beach, was washed away by the North Sea in December, meaning it's again temporarily out of service.
The village's Lifeboat crew is now looking for donations to help fund new equipment and machinery that will maintain and restore this area during the winter months.
What's Government doing to help?
In the General Election Campaign, Labour said it would change the formula for funding coastal defence programmes, to help protect places like Hemsby.
But there's been no further mention of this since.
Plans for a permanent sea defence berm along the Hemsby coastline have been given a licence by the Marine Management Organisation.
This infrastructure - which is designed to protect the village from erosion - is estimated to cost £20 million, which would need to be funded by Great Yarmouth Borough Council.